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Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is an essential photography technique. It can be applied to any subject to improve the composition and balance of your images. The rule of thirds is one of the most useful composition techniques in photography. It’s an important concept to learn as it can be used in all types of photography to produce images which are more engaging and better balanced. Of course, rules should never be applied blindly, particularly in art, so you should think of it more as a handy “rule of thumb” rather than one that’s set in stone. However, it will produce a pleasing photo more often than not, and is an excellent starting point for any composition.

What is the Rule of Thirds?

The rule of thirds involves mentally dividing up your image using 2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines, as shown below. You then position the important elements in your scene along those lines, or at the points where they meet.

The idea is that an off-centre composition is more pleasing to the eye and looks more natural than one where the subject is placed right in the middle of the frame. It also encourages you to make creative use of negative space, the empty areas around your subject.

How to Use the Rule of Thirds

When framing a photo, imagine the scene divided up as above. Think about what elements of the photo are most important, and try to position them at or near the lines and intersections of the grid. They don’t have to be perfectly lined up as long as they’re close.

Example 1, Rule of Third

You may need to move around to get the best composition. This forces you to think more carefully about the shot, and is a good habit to get into whether you’re using the rule of thirds or not.

Example 2, Rule of Third

To help you out, some cameras have a setting which overlays a rule of thirds grid onto your photo. This removes all guesswork and helps you get your positioning even more accurate.

Example 3, Rule of Third

Using Editing Software

You can easily apply the rule of thirds to existing photos by cropping them. This allows you to reposition the important subjects in your image, moving them into more pleasing positions. To help you, software like Photoshop and Lightroom have built-in “crop guide overlays” which include a rule of thirds option. This places a rule of thirds grid on top of your image as you crop it, allowing you to get your positioning spot on.

Breaking the Rule

As with all rules (at least in photography), the rule of thirds doesn’t apply in every situation, and sometimes breaking it can result in a much more eye-catching, interesting photo. Experiment and test out different compositions even if they go against any “rules” you’ve learned

However, learn to use the rule of thirds effectively before you try to break it – that way you can be sure you’re doing so in order to get a better composition, rather than just for the sake of it.